Interagency Pass Program: Clarification, Updates, and Guidelines

1. Today’s Objectives • Provide general information to ensure there is consistency in pass issuance and acceptance among the agencies • To provide updates and clarification on the Interagency Pass Program • Describe the eligibility requirements for issuing a free Annual Pass for active duty military members • Answer your questions

2. The Pass Program at a Glance • Almost 1 million passes distributed to the agencies annually • Generates $30 million • $1.7 million annually to manage the program including: management as well as design, print and warehousing of the passes • All overhead costs of the program are paid through internet and partner sales

3. 2012 Changes • 250 hours now required for a Volunteer Pass • Clarification provided on accepting documentation from the VA for the Access Pass • Clarification provided on checking ID to verify pass ownership • Guidance for issuing a free Annual Pass to Military members

4. 2012 Brochure

5. 2012 Share the Experience Photo Contest • Want your site to be on the Annual Pass? • You have to tell visitors about it!!!! • Advertize it in your handouts/newspaper • Post posters around the your site • Give a brochure to every visitor who comes through the gate • The contest will be bigger and better this year, watch for more information in May • www.sharetheexperience.org

6. Interagency Pass – General Guidelines • Cover entrance fees at FWS and NPS sites and Standard Amenity Fees at USDA FS, BLM and Reclamation sites • Admit the pass owner and accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas, or at per person fee areas, the pass owner(s) and up to 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults • Are not valid for expanded amenity fees

7. Interagency Pass – General Guidelines • Must be displayed in the vehicle windshield at unstaffed recreation • Are non-transferable, non-replaceable and void if altered • Are replaceable if damaged and part of the pass is identifiable • Pass owners must verify ownership when a pass is used

8. Interagency Senior & Annual Passes No changes in 2012! Annual • Must be have one signature and be punched at the time of sale Senior • Available to U.S. Residents/Citizens 62 years old or older – ID must be presented when a pass is issued • Visitors are encouraged to check locally for discount information

9. Interagency Access Pass • Free lifetime pass • Is only available to U.S. Residents/Citizens who have a permanent disability Clarification on VA Documentation • Documentation from the VA that indicates a % disability also signifies it is permanent • Any percent disability qualifies for a pass

10. Interagency Volunteer Pass • Cost: Free • Available to Volunteers who accrued 250 hours • Valid: 12 months • Only one signature, non-transferable • Pass must be punched at the time of issue • Only one pass can be earned per year • Volunteer hours earned reset once a pass is issued

11. Understanding the 250 Hour Requirement

12. Annual Pass for Military • Free for active military members with • proper ID – no self-certification • Valid12 months • Can have two signatures, one must sign at time of issue • Must be punched with the current month at the time of issue • 2 motorcycles, both drivers must have signed the pass • Partners may not issue Annual Pass –Military • May be issued Decals if eligible • Previously purchased pass will not be refunded

13. Verifying Eligibility To qualify the military member must present a Department of Defense ID (CAC Card) to verify the person is an active member of the U.S. military. Look For: Uniformed Services Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines Coast Guard, National Guard Geneva Conventions Identification Card

14. Verifying Eligibility To qualify for the pass a dependent must present a Department of Defense ID (DD Form 1173) that identifies the dependent and his/her sponsor. Look For: USA, USMC, USAF, USN or USCG followed by /AD or /DEC “Identification and Privilege Card”

15. Do Not Accept

16. Supplemental Materials - Hangtags • Sites are encouraged to issue a hangtag with every pass that is issued • Not issuing a hangtag when a pass is issued may create a inconvenience for the visitor later • Annual hangtags must have the expiration date punched out • We will be redesigning the hangtag in 2012

17. Supplemental Materials - Decals • Decals are available to all pass holders • A visitor MUST have 3 things • A valid Interagency Pass • Photo Identification • Registration of an open topped vehicle The name on all three must match!! • Decals for Annual pass holders will be punched to match the expiration date on the pass • Decals for Lifetime pass holders will be punched for 1 year from time of issue

18. Ordering Interagency Passes • Sites may order no more than 20% of the previous year Annual Pass order • Free Annual Passes for Military can be ordered starting today • Official order form must be used for faxed orders. • Orders can be placed by: • email: fedrecpass@usgs.gov • Phone: 888-ASK-USGS (888-275-8747) • Fax: 303-202-4693

19. ? ? Making it Right the First Time • As time allows, ask questions • Helping visitors to make the right decision is very important • FLREA requires that visitors issued Senior and Access Passes meet eligibility requirements

20. Verifying Ownership • Verifying ownership by checking ID when a visitor presents a pass is important • Photo ID should be presented every time a pass is used • After any pass is issued, pass owners may not be required to re-verify that they are “eligible” for the pass

21. Checking ID Examples • A visitor with an Access Pass should never be questioned about their disability after a pass is issued, any ID sufficient • A visitor with a Senior Pass is not required to present US issued ID after a pass is issued, any ID is sufficient, including non-US issued ID • A visitor with a military pass is not required to show his military ID card each time a pass is used

22. Checking ID Examples • Examples where a pass might not be accepted: • A visitor presents a Senior Pass and ID that shows the visitor is not old enough for the pass • A DOD contractor presents his free Annual Pass for Military and his Contractor CAC card • In these cases the pass may not be accepted and should be voided according to your bureau’s policy

23. More Information • This presentation and the SOPs are available at: http://www.nps.gov/training/tel • Click on the Participant Guide link • An additional memo will be sent with the updated SOPs and announcement of the on sale date for the passes

24. NPS Specific

25. Refunds and Upgrades • No refunds of passes purchased, or fees paid, before the pass was made available • Parks may offer refunds if the visitor pays a fee or purchases a pass but is qualified for a free pass and requests the refund at same park • No refunds if the visitor is not at the same park where the fee was paid or pass purchased

26. Registers and Signs • Parks are responsible for reprogramming their registers and updating signs and needed.